What is academic integrity?
Academic integrity is honest and responsible scholarship, where students engage in academic work, attributing their sources and development of knowledge. As everyone may have their own understanding of or experiences with academic integrity, please review the University of Miami Honor Code.
How can I proctor an examination online?
Canvas integrates with tools that help instructors manage online exams and support academic integrity. Whether administering a quiz, midterm, or final exam, instructors can use Canvas New Quizzes to create and deliver assessments, along with Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor to provide additional testing controls and remote proctoring. These tools can help establish a more controlled testing environment while supporting a fair and consistent assessment experience for students.
Create Exams via Canvas New Quizzes
Canvas New Quizzes allows instructors to create, deliver, and grade quizzes and exams directly within their courses. Several question types, including multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank, can be graded automatically, while essay questions require manual grading. Instructors can also customize quiz settings, organize questions using Item Banks, and review student performance through assessment reports.
Learn About New Quizzes in Canvas
Before administering an exam, consider previewing your quiz to verify questions, settings, and point values. You can also offer a low-stakes practice quiz to help students become familiar with the assessment experience and identify potential technical issues before a graded exam.
Respondus Lockdown Browser & Respondus Monitor
Respondus LockDown Browser is a secure browser that helps maintain a controlled testing environment for quizzes and exams in Canvas. It restricts students from accessing other websites, opening applications, printing, or copying content while completing an assessment. Instructors can enable LockDown Browser for individual quizzes through the Respondus Dashboard in Canvas.
Students must install the University of Miami's version of LockDown Browser before taking an exam that requires it. Consider providing a low-stakes practice quiz so students can test the software and become familiar with the testing experience.
Respondus Monitor is a companion application for LockDown Browser that tracks students through their webcam while they take an online exam and examines student behavior patterns within the footage in order to detect potential cheating. Any instances of potential cheating are then flagged and ranked in order of severity to allow the instructor to quickly determine which footage needs review. Respondus Monitor cannot be used without a Respondus Lockdown Browser. To take a test, students will prepare their webcam, open the LockDown Browser, login to their Canvas course, and access their test.
Learn More About Respondus
Turnitin
Turnitin is an academic integrity tool integrated with Canvas that helps instructors review the originality of student submissions. It compares submitted work against existing sources, including websites, published materials, and previously submitted papers, to generate a Similarity Report highlighting matching text. Instructors can use these reports to review citation practices, identify potential concerns, and support conversations about responsible academic writing. It is important to note that similarity scores do not automatically indicate plagiarism.
How do I encourage students to uphold Academic Integrity?
Promoting academic integrity begins with creating a learning environment where students understand expectations, feel supported, and have opportunities to demonstrate their learning. Instructors can use Canvas to reinforce responsible academic practices through clear communication, thoughtful assessment design, and access to student support resources.
Include an Academic Honesty Statement
You can include an academic honesty statement at the beginning of an exam to serve as a reminder of the standards and expectations for academic integrity. You can also have students review the University of Miami Honor Code prior to an exam or final assessment.
Design Assessments That Encourage Authentic Learning
Consider assessments that invite students to apply concepts, explain their reasoning, reflect on their learning, or connect course material to real-world scenarios. Canvas Assignments, Discussions, and New Quizzes provide opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding in different ways.
Foster Open Communication
Encourage students to ask questions, seek clarification, and communicate when they encounter challenges. Use Canvas Announcements, Inbox, and assignment feedback to reinforce expectations and connect students with support before difficulties arise.
Recommend Tutoring Support
The Camner Center will offer resources including tutoring, Learning Specialist, and Disability services through phone or Zoom meetings. You can refer to students to their website to access these services.
Promote Citation Resources
University of Miami Libraries has a resource on Citation and Research Management Tools for students to access.
Offer Practice Assessments & Feedback Opportunities
Provide low-stakes quizzes, draft submissions, or practice assignments in Canvas so students can become familiar with assessment expectations and receive feedback before higher-stakes evaluations. For exams requiring Respondus LockDown Browser or Monitor, a practice quiz can also help students test their technology in advance.
How do I ensure that assessments include accommodations for students with disabilities?
Some students may require accommodations to tests or other aspects of their remote learning experience because of a documented disability, such as extended time on tests and quizzes. If you have any students who require accommodations, you are encouraged to work with the Office of Disability Services (disabilityservices@miami.edu) in the Camner Center to ensure that they are engaging in equitable learning opportunities. Disability Services has issued guidance to University of Miami faculty members regarding the accommodation request process, the types of accommodations, and engaging in communicating with students regarding their accommodations.
Learn About Setting Accomodations in Canvas
What are the options for faculty and student technical support?
Need support? In addition to the Service Desk, the Learning Platforms Team can provide training and support for any of the technologies featured in this guide. Learn more about our current training offerings on the Academic Continuity Guide.
Need help with teaching online? The Distance Learning Institute provides consultations for faculty who leverage online technologies and teaching techniques to create engaging course experiences.
Creating alternative content and assignments? Visit PETAL to explore faculty development opportunities, teaching resources, and strategies for supporting academic integrity through intentional course design.
